Cork explode into contention

Cork1-18

What began as a powerful challenge in the second of the Guinness Munster semi-finals ended in a rout, after Donal O'Grady's superbly prepared team showed character as well as terrific skill to overcome a spirited Clare recovery.

Whatever the outcome was going to be, Cork showed from the opening minutes that they had the mental toughness to take on the team which had shocked league finalists Tipperary in the opening round.

Crucially, in terms of the way they were to go about their task, they showed in no uncertain terms they were going to take on the opposition on even terms.

Not for a very long team have I seen a Cork side so focused and so highly motivated. For that, O'Grady and the management team deserve enormous credit for successfully converting it into such positive action.

This was a day when probing questions about a number of individuals were answered in definite fashion. Pat Mulcahy, for instance, confirmed everything he had ever promised in league hurling and, among the newcomers, Ronan Curran was to contribute hugely at centre-back, while Tom Kenny gave an exhibition at right half-back which was all the more creditable after his unfortunate experience with the footballers. Setanta Ó hAilpín, too, arrived as a senior hurler of real status, causing Clare captain Frank Lohan endless problems.

Mulcahy signalled his, and the team's intentions, by the determined way he twice blocked down Clare shots in the opening minutes. That level of total commitment was to be replicated all over the field, as frees from Joe Deane (two) and John Gardiner gave Cork the start they needed, before an unexpected goal from the inspired Deane in the 13th minute.

Ben O'Connor, who was to have a storming game on the right wing, sped through the centre after dispossessing Ollie Baker and his pass to Deane was spectacularly volleyed goalwards.

That score confirmed Cork's steadily increasing grip, while highlighting the fact that Clare were still struggling to find a rhythm.

The principal reason for this was the stranglehold that all six Cork backs were exerting, particularly the inside trio, with Mulcahy giving the lead and Wayne Sherlock and an in-form Diarmuid O'Sullivan responding.

In general play, Clare made little or no headway (James O'Connor never saw the ball) until an improved Tony Carmody picked off their opening scores, in the 20th and 22nd minutes, after moving to centre-forward. By then, Cork had 1-5 on the scoreboard, yet they were to manage just one point before the break.

The recalled Ollie Baker achieved comparatively little against a steadier John Gardiner but, much more significantly, Michael O'Connell was winning as much ball as Colin Lynch and also showed a capacity to compete with the Clare star in a physical sense.

Later in the game Lynch was to be red-carded, following an off-the-ball incident, but that happened at a time when the game was gone from the favourites.

More pertinent, Clare made a powerful start to the second half, which saw replacement full-forward Barry Murphy better Mulcahy several times and Niall Gilligan also make an impact, in the left corner. In six minutes they had scored five points.

Indeed, Gilligan had a great chance to shoot at goal from the last of the five, but blew the ball over the bar. For the first time in the game, Clare looked buoyant but the challenge was to fade almost as quickly.

A number of factors accounted for this, arguably the most vital being the leadership given by Joe Deane in meeting the challenge from Brian Lohan head on and coming out well on top (as well as putting over a few vital frees).

It meant that Clare had lost the key driving force which had brought about their late first-half rally.

But, there were other reasons too, not least the fact that Cork continued to thrive on direct play and a very positive approach.

Sean Óg Ó hAilpín was back to his very best, excelling under pressure; Diarmuid O'Sullivan curbed the threat from Murphy after moving to full-back; and the brilliant Sherlock dominated against Gilligan after going back to his own corner from the left.

The moves testified to the alertness of the Cork bench, Tom Kenny was a revelation, hitting so much ball with style and conviction as to put him forward as one of several candidates for man-of-the-match, and on what was to prove a powerful right flank, O'Connor and Setanta Ó hAilpín continually put Clare under pressure.

Ó hAilpín, in particular, showed character in the way he recovered from the over-zealous attentions of Frank Lohan to hit a great point.

Another shot from him came back off the crossbar and earned Browne a penalty after he was fouled. O'Sullivan came up to take the shot and his low effort, hit strongly, was deflected over the bar by Diarmuid McMahon.

It was all a long away from the humiliation of the qualifier defeat last summer.

*Willie Barrett gave an outstanding exhibition of refereeing. He imposed his authority in the opening minutes and never relaxed it.

Scorers: Cork J. Deane 1-8 (0-7 frees); S. O hAilpín 0-3; N. McCarthy 0-2; J. Gardiner (free), T. McCarthy, D. O'Sullivan (free), B. O'Connor and M. O'Connell 0-1 each. Clare: N. Gilligan 0-4 (0-1 free); T. Carmody 0-3; B. Murphy, C. Plunkett (seventy) and A. Markham 0-1 each.

CORK: D. Og Cusack; W. Sherlock, P. Mulcahy, D. O'Sullivan; T. Kenny, R. Curran, Sean Og O hAilpín; M. O'Connell, J. Gardiner; B. O'Connor, N. McCarthy, T. McCarthy; Setanta O hAilpín, J. Deane, A. Browne (capt.). Sub: Derek Barrett twice as a blood replacement, 38th and 64th minutes.

CLARE: D. Fitzgerald; B. Quinn, B. Lohan, F. Lohan (capt.); C. Plunkett, D. McMahon, G. Quinn; O. Baker, C. Lynch; A. Markham, T. Griffin, T. Carmody; N. Gilligan, A. Quinn, J. O'Connor. Subs: B. Murphy for Quinn (second half); D. O'Connell for Baker (64th); G. Considine for Markham (65th); J. Reddan for Carmody (69th).

Referee: W. Barrett (Tipperary).

Attendance: 35,475.

*A minute's silence was observed in memory of the late Paddy Casey from Sixmilebridge who had been prominent in Clare GAA circles.